THE trustees of the Bedale Community Minibus (BCM) invited volunteer drivers, escorts, and administrative staff to a get together held at The Reubens, at Leeming Bar, to say thank you for their support.

BCM became a registered charity in 2014, and acquired a minibus form the former Northallerton and District Voluntary Association. The charity now operates two minibuses, and all of the work is undertaken by volunteers, providing community transport for Bedale and district communities.

It enables all residents, but particularly elderly and disabled people, to attend events, access weekly door to door shopping at Northallerton, and attend Glebe House surgery for doctor’s appointments.

Like all charities, its work has been restricted due to the Covid pandemic, and during this period volunteer drivers undertook a weekly delivery service of prescriptions for patients who were self-isolating, and not able to collect them from the chemist.

BCM do not receive financial support from local authorities or statutory organisations, and is funded entirely by its own efforts, with the exception of donations from the Bedale and Leeming Co-op, who on two occasions have given generously as a result of the Community Fund Scheme

See www.bedaleminibus.org.uk for more information